Nigeria extends coronavirus lockdown in main cities

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has announced an extension of the lockdown in the capital Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states in order to sustain efforts at fighting coronavirus.

The initial 14-day lockdown was due to end Monday night but it has now been extended for another 14 days.

Essential workers, food shops and pharmacies are however allowed to operate during the lockdown.

In a televised national address on Monday night, President Buhari said the fight against coronavirus is a matter of life and death.

He said although the lockdown has put Nigerians in a difficult situation, it was necessary to save lives.

Mr Buhari said the initial two weeks of the restriction order helped in tracing people who had contacted those already infected.

He thanked Nigerians for their sacrifice and for complying with the government’s guidelines in fighting the disease.

So far Nigeria has confirmed 343 cases of the virus with 10 fatalities.

Besides the federal government’s lockdown order of the capital Abuja, as well as Lagos and Ogun states, a number of state governments across the country have also imposed restrictions as more people test positive for the virus.

Many Nigerians continue to complain that they have not benefited from relief food and cash allocated to poor families by the government.

Mr Buhari said the relief will be extended for an additional one million families in the next two weeks.